【推荐1】A shark that walks in water instead of swimming might sound like a creature straight out of a science fiction thriller. However, that is precisely how the four new species of the fish-found in the tropical waters of Northern Australia-move across the seafloor. The unique ocean animals were discovered by a team of scientists, led by Dr Christine Dudgeon from Australians University of Queensland, during a 12-year-old global conservation study.

The newly-found sharks have all evolved to survive in low oxygen environments, enabling them to hunt during low tides. The researchers believe their ability to use their fins to walk across the water affords the sharks substantial advantage over the unsuspecting smaller animals they prey on .

“Though they are super hunters in their shallow habitat, the tiny sharks are harmless to humans," says Dudgeon. "At less than a meter long on average, walking sharks present no threat to people. They're incredibly cute little animals and are really more like gecko than a shark.”

A DNA analysis of skin samples from the sharks suggests that walking sharks broke away from their brothers and sisters about nine million years ago and became a distinct species. Though that may appear to be a long time ago, it is relatively recent given that sharks have been around for more than 400 million years. In fact, Dudgeon and her team believe walking sharks are the youngest kind of sharks on Earth!

The researchers, who published their findings in The Marine and Freshwater Research journal on January 21, 2020, say that the sharks' small numbers and shallow habitat make them extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and overfishing. Three of the nine walking shark species , all of which live in the waters off Northern Australia, eastern Indonesia, and near the island of New Guinea, are currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, which lists species at risk. Dudgeon and her team believe sensible conservation management plans are urgently needed to protect the walking sharks and other endangered animals from further threats.

【推荐2】Elephants in Uganda are starting to come close to villages near national parks. The big animals are a real danger to people.

So, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has been giving people new tools to keep the elephants away: vuvuzelas. They are plastic instruments some fans use at sports events.

The instruments make a loud sound elephants do not like. The animals leave, and no one is harmed. A spokesperson for the Uganda Wildlife Authority says vuvuzelas work because they do not threaten the elephants. That is important because an elephant that feels threatened is more likely to attack. So far, no one has reported an elephant attacking in answer to a vuvuzela.

Officials and villagers have tried other ways to stop elephants from coming near farms and houses. They have built beehives — houses for flying insects that sting. They have hung ropes covered in spicy oil. They have dug long, deep holes. And they have used guns, called A-K47s.

An official from the Uganda Wildlife Authority explains that people shoot the gun in the air to scare the elephant. But over time, the elephants have stopped being afraid of the sound of the gun. They only look at the shooter and wave their ears.

Another official for the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Gessa Simblicious, says one elephant-prevention solution will not work everywhere in Uganda. And one day, elephants may accept the vuvuzela noise, just as they do the sound of the A-K47.

But right now, vuvuzelas are an effective, non-violent and fun way to deal with a serious problem.

【推荐2】A six-year-old longing to keep a unicorn in her backyard figured she’d get the hard part out of the way first.

Last November, Madeline wrote a letter to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control with a straightforward request. “Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one. Please send me a letter in response.”

Director Mayeda replied two weeks later. The department does in fact license unicorns, she said, undercertain conditions. Those include polishing the unicorn’s horn at least once a month with a soft cloth, feeding it watermelon at least once a week, covering it with only nontoxic and biodegradable sparkles and giving it regular access to sunlight, moonbeams, and rainbows. And, because unicorns are indeed very rare to find, the department is also giving Madeline a toy unicorn to keep her company during her search, as a token of appreciation.

“It is always rewarding to hear from young people who thoughtfully consider the requirements of providing a loving home for animals,” Mayeda wrote in the letter. “I like your sense of responsible pet ownership to seek permission in advance to keep a unicorn in Los Angeles County.”

Mayeda told the Washington Post that this is the first time the department has received a request for a license for a unicorn or any mythical creature. They were impressed with the first grader for wanting to ask permission in the first place, and doing her research to work out how to go about that. She and her colleagues deal with a lot of “life-and-death” issues on the job, whether that’s seeing cases of animal abuse or animals hurting people or making decisions about having to put down dangerous or sick animals. So Madeline’s letter has considerably brightened their spirits, and she is due to visit the department this week to discuss her unicorn license application. Safe to say, she’s in for a magical surprise.

【推荐3】One of India’s longest and strongest heat waves in decades, with temperatures reaching 123°F (51° C) has killed at least 36 lives since it began in May, and the government has warned that the suffering might continue as the arrival of monsoon (季风) rains has been delayed.

India’s heat waves have grown particularly strong in the past decade, killing thousands of people and affecting an increasing number of states. This year, the extreme temperatures have struck large parts of northern and central India.

Anup Kumar Srivastava, an expert at India’s National Disaster Management Authority, said the number of Indian states hit by heat waves was expected to grow to 23 this year from 9 in 2015. He said, “This year, the number of heat wave days has also increased — and it’s not just day temperatures, night temperatures have also been high.” He added that the coming storms would bring down temperatures in some areas, but that heat waves might pick up again until the monsoon rains arrive.

India’s Meteorological Department warns that extreme heat brings a very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages. Medical authorities have canceled leaves for doctors at hospitals in Churu as the number of patients has soared. Schools in central India have remained closed.

In the capital, New Delhi, temperatures reached a record 118.4°F (45°C) on Monday, June 10. Clouds on Tuesday promised rain, but largely failed to deliver. Dust storms the next day lowered temperatures to around     100 °F (38°C).

Heat records around the world are more likely to be broken as average temperatures climb upward because of rising greenhouse gas emissions.